At this point they just really need someone willing to put the shots up and JK's been that someone.

Warriors at the half @ MIN ORTG: 95.9 DRTG: 124.0 Dubs continue to have a serious lack of offense. Can't create advantages, can't capitalize on the few ones they manage to create, and just no way to diversify their attack. Season slipping away.

Not that their options are plentiful but Loon has just been too slow and immobile and it's affecting how fast and quick the Warriors have been (i.e., they haven't been) when put in the blender.

Difference in engagement level for JK when defending: On ball:

Two to the ball against Ant, lack of backside communication b/w Jimmy and Loon leaves Rudy open underneath the rim. Just needs to be better in that regard if they're willing to live with two to the ball against Ant.

Flare screen by Podz for JK in the corner. Lane is open but JK pulls up for the three.

Dubs go to the zone and the Wolves immediately counter by screening the top for Ant. They're wising up and finding counters to this look.

Game 5 of Warriors-Timberwolves is tonight. Thoughts? Prayers?

Dubs not being able to get back to their tandem 2-3 zone is tied to them not being able to score. It's not advisable to zone up off a miss and getting back in transition D. You need to score to get yourself time to set up a zone.

At some point the Dubs' offense needed to have Jimmy be enough of a scoring threat to become sustainable. Without that, it was a ticking time bomb.

Warriors at the half vs. MIN ORTG: 130.4 DRTG: 123.4 Dubs' offense getting a jolt, even without Steph. JK has brought the necessary aggression. mixing it in with controlled play and decision making. Dubs' defense has done just enough to hold the Wolves back, but need to lock in during the 2H.

Dubs have been daring the Wolves to beat their tandem 2-3 zone and the Wolves, so far, haven't.

Nothing else to say about Gary's play other than he needs to be better.

"Tandem" 2-3 zone for the Dubs. Key is to stay matched up on the perimeter, keep things in front, switch screens.

JK's been perfect for the Dubs' mantra of playing fast, before the Wolves defense can settle in the half court. His intention of attacking the rim has also been welcomed.

Wolves run a rare inverted double drag for Randle, trying to make Trayce navigate two ballscreens. Trayce does an excellent job sticking to Randle, Podz jumps out around the second screen to blitz and force the TO.

Wolves zone the ATO and JK responds with a good pass to Podz, then attacking the zone with a hesi drive.

Jogging back in transition defense. That's 10 laps around the football field.

Trayce defending Randle in isolation and screening for Podz to get him an open nail jumper. Quality minutes.

Trayce in drop vs. Conley while guarding Randle, allows him to stay on Randle and defend in isolation.

Draymond up to the level vs. Ant in PnR action, clearly wants him to give the ball up and defer decision making to someone else. Draymond deflects the pass and while Ant gets an open three after letting Podz close out, it's a hurried shot.

Game 4 of Warriors-Timberwolves is tonight. Thoughts about lineups, rotations, schemes, Xs and Os, adjustments, or anything in general?

Deflating loss. Ant got it going and saw blood in the water once Draymond had to sit with his 4th foul, opening the paint and the inside-out game for MIN. Jimmy and JK with 60 combined, but it wasn't enough, with the former running out of gas down the stretch. FInal "kill" count GSW: 7 MIN: 7

Perfect switching by the Dubs

Dubs have been going to "Spain/Stack" PnR action lately w/ Jimmy as the ballhandler and Buddy as the stack screener. Wolves scramble to defend it here, Buddy with a bit of off-the-dribble sorcery (lol) to create an open shot.

Empty corner action b/w Rudy and Ant, GP2 does a good job staying attached to Ant's hip. Loon plays up to the level and closes space to bait Ant into passing to Rudy, then Loon veers back to intercept. Jimmy attacks the paint in transition, kicks out, then relocates in Steph fashion for the huge 3.

Okay JK

Wolves in zone, loading up against Jimmy on the right side. JK sees the opportunity to cut with space in front of him and takes it.

Podz sceens for Jimmy again. Donte hedges instead of switching but Podz maintains contact with JMac, allows Jimmy to attack Donte anyway and draws the foul.

Podz points toward Jimmy, signaling Draymond to pass it quickly. Podz then lifts up to screen for Jimmy to get the Donte matchup, Jimmy makes his move to turn the corner and drive. Draymond seals Randle w/ a Gortat to clear the lane for Jimmy.

GOT 'EM

Good individual Draymond defense but I commend everyone else for staying home and trusting Draymond, as they should.

Warriors at the half vs. MIN ORTG: 91.3 DRTG: 87.0 Defense has been the Dubs' calling card tonight. They end the half with their "tandem" 2-3 below, forcing Ant to have to give the ball up and running NAW off the line. They'll take a pull-up middy over an open 3 and they are rewarded for it.

JK grab-and-go. Look at how he skies for the rebound. The effort has been there.

Playing and attacking fast is the key. Jimmy stampedes upon catching the ball and draws the and-1 vs. Rudy.

Draymond showing early help vs. Ant. Everyone else in boxes and elbows w/ JImmy trying to sink in vs. Rudy, who tries to lift up to screen. Ant aborts a potential drive by passing to Randle and that's where the possession dies for the Wolves.

Possession of flying around on defense, veer-back switching, making the Wolves out the ball on the floor. The formula.

JK 3/4th court pressure vs. Ant, gives him enough to think about and when Ant finally makes his move and blows by, Draymond on the backline is there to help seal the stop.

"Out"/"Follow" for Jimmy, followed by Podz screening to get Donte switched onto Jimmy, who then gets a clear side of the floor to isolate. No Rudy on the floor means little rim protection, Donte sees no help from his teammates and Jimmy pushes him to the paint for the bucket.

No matter your opinion of JK he's been bringing a needed level of moxie and aggression on both ends and despite whatever faults he may have and continue to display, it's been much needed.

Loon as a PnR partner for Jimmy is intriguing in the sense that Loon is an expert at screening angles and timing. Jimmy in attack mode tonight can benefit from Loon ballscreens.

If you're passing that Jimmy, that should've been a lob

An unfortunate side effect of Draymond not being in the right headspace is him forcing passes through windows that don't exist.

Not lost on me that the Wolves are using empty corner double drags w/ Randle lifted up on the slot to make it hard for a tag to come on the roll. Trayce and Podz do enough of a good job, saved a bit by a bad pass by Conley. Circle this possession.

Need more of this from Jimmy. Gets the late switch vs. Gobert, Nash dribble, draws Gobert out and isolates. Gets in the paint, jump stop, controlled turnaround fade. Finding the balance between aggression and control without unnecessarily relegating.

Game 3 of Warriors-Timberwolves is tonight. Thoughts about lineups, rotations, schemes, Xs and Os, adjustments, or anything in general?

Warriors couldn't sustain their runs, placed themselves in a hole at the start, and couldn't capitalize on a 2Q stretch without Ant. Not enough situations where they could create advantages and put two to the ball -- problems they'll have to solve w/o Steph in G3. Final "kill" count GSW: 5 MIN: 10

Foul drawing may not be aesthetically pleasing but it is a skill, as the Dubs have displayed all throughout the night by their lack of said skill (I'm looking at you, Podz and Draymond).